batter my heart

Tonight, I want to share my favorite poem from my English class here at Trinity Western University. Something about the urgency and honesty in this 17th century poet struck me deeply. He is begging, demanding God to act in him and change him, even if it seems disastrous or painful. I can relate in a lot of ways; right now in life, I just want to see God take away my pride, my judgement. Whatever the cost, I want Him and I want to be like Him. Just like my brother John Donne wrote 400 years ago. 

"Batter my heart, three person'd God; for you

As yet but knock, breathe, shine, and seek to mend;

That I may rise, and stand, overthrow me, and bend 

Your force, to break, blow, burn and make me new. 

I, like a usurped town, to another due, 

Labour to admit you, but oh, to no end, 

Reason your viceroy in me, me should defend, 

But is captive's, and proves weak or untrue, 

Yet dearly I love you, and would be loved fain, 

But I am betroth'd unto your enemy, 

Divorce me, untie, or break that knot again, 

Take me to you, imprison me, for I 

Except you enthrall me, never shall be free, 

Nor ever chaste, except you ravish me."

Donne, John. Holly Sonnet VII. The Broadview Anthology of Seventeenth-Century Verse and Prose. Eds. Alan Rudrum, Joseph Black, and Holly Faith nelson. Peterborogh, ON: London, 2000. 124. Print.